When Sir William Gilbert, the lyricist of the 19th Century Gilbert and Sullivan light opera composing team, wrote the famous line in The Pirates of Penzance, “The policeman’s lot is not a happy one”—meaning not an easy one—he could have included prosecutors.
Consider the year ahead. America’s local prosecutors will begin 2003 with more challenges, concerns and responsibilities than perhaps they ever thought they would have to face. But they will persevere, because this is their mission and their nature.
In addition to dealing with the issues that traditionally have been a local prosecutor’s province—local crime, including homicides, robberies, burglaries, drug-related offenses, violence against women, and, in recent years, cybercrime and telemarketing fraud, for example—they are now involved in anti-terrorism and other developments related to national security. Along with the latter new responsibilities come a host of new laws and programs.
NDAA and its affiliates are uniquely positioned to help prosecutors cope with all these responsibilities.
Headquartered in the Washington, DC area, the association stays on top of issues of interest and concern to prosecutors and has a close relationship with the top policy makers on law enforcement issues in the administration and Congress. As I have mentioned before, whenever any major policy change is considered at the White House, Department of Justice or Congress, NDAA is always consulted.
The NDAA National Advocacy Center, with the American Prosecutors Research Institute and the National College of District Attorneys providing faculty as well as outside experts, offers a continuously expanding curriculum of programs. From the smallest to the largest jurisdictions and from the newest assistants to the most experienced prosecutors, NDAA’s National Advocacy Center helps prosecutors keep up with the latest technical advances and the most successful and innovative programs, to meet ever-changing challenges.
In 2003, NDAA will sponsor or co-sponsor several conferences of compelling interest to prosecutors. These will be:
The 30th National Conference on Juvenile Justice (March 16-19 in Philadelphia). Co-sponsored by NDAA and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, this is the largest and most successful national conference in the field, continuously attracting a large attendance, top speakers and stimulating programs.
The NDAA Capitol Conference (May 4-6 in Washington, DC). Previously called the Metro Conference, this meeting is aimed at bringing prosecutors to the national capital to hear discussions of criminal justice issues by the nation’s top law enforcement officials. It also provides the time and opportunity for them to go to Capitol Hill to discuss issues of importance to them and NDAA with their representatives in Congress. The 2002 conference drew a record attendance and was generally regarded as a highly successful conference. Speakers included Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, FBI Director Bob Mueller and Deputy U.S. Attorney General Larry Thompson. We expect to have a similar high-octane conference in 2003.
The NDAA Summer Conference. This summer (July 20-23) we’ll be meeting in spectacular Snowmass, Colorado, with a new format that will focus more sharply on those issues in which prosecutors have indicated they have the most interest. Under the new system, the American Prosecutors Research Institute will plan one track of the conference program and the National College of District Attorneys will plan a second track. You won’t want to miss this conference.
The World Conference of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) (August 10-14 in Washington, DC). NDAA is a co-sponsor of this conference, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of State, and the National Association of Attorneys General. The theme of the 2003 world conference is “The Fight Against Terrorism: A Global Effort.” In view of the globalization of crime, including terrorism and anti-terrorism efforts, as well as many other international issues, such as cybercrime and extradition, this conference offers the unique and valuable opportunity to establish contacts and network with our counterparts throughout the world. The president of NDAA represents America’s prosecutors at IAP world conferences and former NDAA President John Kaye of Monmouth County, New Jersey, represents NDAA on the association’s Executive Committee.
As prosecutors contemplate and plan for whatever the new year brings, they can be confident that NDAA will be at their side.
